BENIN CITY – The Executive Chairman of the Edo State Internal Revenue, Chief (Sir) Oseni Elamah has said that the state Ministry of Youths and Sports needed viable marketing skills /administrative management acumen that would help attract events in view of adding value to the economic activities of the state.
Chief Elamah made assertion when he played host to the Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Presly Ediagbonya in his office in Benin City.
The EIRS boss who noted that the Ogbemudia Stadium is supposed to be the focus of economic activities of the state, pointed out that despite the facelift, the resources available to the ministry have not been properly annexed such that it can generate revenue that would help resuscitate some of the facilities in the stadium.
He disclosed that the EIRS has began the opening of proposal with a view to embarking on tax enumeration survey in some local governments.
Elamah expressed his agency’s readiness to partner with the sports ministry, especially in the area of hotel/event centres occupancy such that the ministry can charge those who come to make use of the facilities.
Earlier, the Edo State Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Hon. Presly Ediagbonya, said the government alone can not fund sport activities, hence the need for his ministry to look inward in view of the need to resuscitate some of the dilapidated facilities.
To this end, he said the ministry dimmed it necessary to seek partnership with the EIRS in the area of provision of vehicles and other areas necessary to improving the status of the facilities in the ministry.
Hon. Ediagbonya specially cited the indoor sports arena, saying that visit became imperative in that the EIRS boss being a sport lover would help midwife for the ministry.